Updated December 30, 2022
Mountain biking is an excellent sport for people of all ages and genders that provides a perfect opportunity to commune with nature and get some health-enriching exercise. The most suitable bike for any individual can primarily be determined by physical stature, followed by experience, age, and type of riding preferred. There are bikes, however, that have the design geometry and features better suited to the physical characteristics of women.
To help you locate such bikes, a few of the best representing the range in pricing and variety of features have been selected as an introduction. To start, there is a comparison table followed by descriptions, key features, photos, videos, and a basic buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more information on bikes and accessories, please check out these reviews:
Folding Bikes Cycling Cameras MTB Lights Hardtail Mountain Bikes Gravel Bikes Under $2,000 Beginner Road Bikes Bike Computers Comfort Bikes Children’s Mountain Bikes Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets Mountain Bike Helmets Affordable Electric Bikes BMX Bikes Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
Women’s Mountain Bike Reviews
- Diamondback Lux 1 Women’s Mountain Bike
- Diamondback Clutch 1 Women’s Mountain Bike
- Raleigh Ziva Comp Women’s Mountain Bike
- Raleigh Eva 2 Women’s Mountain Bike
- Schwinn High Timber Women’s Mountain Bike
Women’s Mountain Bike Comparison Table
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Gears | Suspension | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Diamondback Lux 1 Women's Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 3 x 8 | Hardtail | 4.6 | $$ |
 | Diamondback Clutch 1 Women's Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 1 x 10 | Full | 5.0 | $$$$ |
 | Raleigh Ziva Comp Women's Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 1 x 11 | Hardtail | 4.6 | $$$ |
 | Raleigh Eva 2 Women's Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 3 x 8 | Hardtail | 4.3 | $ |
  | Schwinn High Timber Women's Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 3 x 7 | Hardtail | 4.4 | $ |
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Drive Train | Suspension | Rating | Price |
Diamondback Lux 1 Women’s Mountain Bike
It’s a hardtail model with SR Suntour front suspension and wide 27.5” x 2.35” to smooth out the bumps, with a durable 6061 aluminum frame and female-specific design with a low standover height.
It has Tektro mechanical disc brakes for precise braking control and plenty of gears with a 3 x 8 Shimano drivetrain.
The result is good handling and maneuverability in a variety of conditions from steep hill climbs, to winding trails, to fast downhill terrain.
It comes with a limited lifetime warranty at a reasonable price.
Two upgraded models in the line are available if you are looking for a bit more, the Lux 2 and Lux 3, which offer a few more features and benefits.
- Sizes: S – 15-inch, M – 17-inch, L – 19-inch (for riders 5’3” to 5’10”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 T6 aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, SR Suntour XCT30, 80mm Travel
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.35-inch
- Rims: double-wall alloy, 32 hole
- Gears: 3 x 8 Shimano drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes
- Saddle: DB Women’s Performance MTB Saddle
- Color: blue
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty on the frame
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$
Diamondback Clutch 1 Women’s Mountain Bike
Diamondback Clutch 1 Women’s Mountain Bike
It sports dual suspension with 150mm travel in the front and 130mm travel in the back for a smooth platform regardless of the obstacles.
The lightweight aluminum frame, progressive geometry, Shimano drivetrain, and wide WTB tires combine for a quick-pedaling, maneuverable ride even on advanced single tracks.
The WTB Koda saddle is a comfortable fit for females and the Shimano hydraulic brakes are precise.
This is a high-quality mountain bike with a price to match. It does come with a fairly generous warranty.
- Sizes: XS – 14-inch, S – 15.5-inch, M – 17-inch, L – 19-inch (for riders 5’1” to 6’2”)
- Frame/Fork Material: aluminum
- Suspension: full, front – SR Suntour Aion with 150mm travel, rear shock – X-Fusion 02 Pro R large volume with 130mm travel
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.3-inch WTB Vigilante
- Rims: Blanchard 29R, tubeless-ready, 32 hole
- Gears: 1 x 10 Shimano drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Shimano BR-M395 hydraulic disc brakes
- Saddle: WTB Koda Comp
- Color: blue
- Warranty: 5-year warranty on the front triangle, 1-year warranty on the swingarm
- Rating: 5.0
- Price: $$$$$
Raleigh Ziva Comp Women’s Mountain Bike
It comes at a moderate price while still boasting a quality batch of components.
Stopping is precise with Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes and the hardtail is matched with a mid-range Suntour Raidon XC Air fork with 100mm travel to smooth out the bumps.
It comes with a Women’s Mountain Seat, an easy-shifting 11-speed Shimano drivetrain, wide 27.5” x 2.25” tires, and women-specific geometry for a comfortable nimble ride.
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L (for riders 5’0” to 6’2”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, Suntour Raidon XC Air with 100mm travel
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.25-inch
- Rims: double-wall alloy, 32 hole
- Gears: 1 x 11 Shimano drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes
- Saddle: Raleigh Women’s Mountain
- Color: white
- Warranty: ask about the details of the warranty
- Rating: 4.6
- Price: $$$
Raleigh Eva 2 Women’s Mountain Bike
The Raleigh Eva 2 is a low-priced model designed for women to ride moderate distances on the road or on light trails.
With 4 sizes for riders from 5’0” to 6’0”, it has a reasonably good set of components for the price.
The frame has a design that uses women’s-specific geometry and is made of high-quality, durable, and lightweight 6061 aluminum, with an SR Suntour front fork that has a modest 75mm travel to smooth out some of the bumps.
There are plenty of gears in the 3 x 8 Shimano drivetrain but the brakes are linear-pull V-brakes that are a cut below disc brakes though fairly effective, nonetheless.
The tires are quality 27.5” x 2.1” Kenda brand mounted on sturdy double-walled rims, and the saddle and grips are designed for the comfort of women.
Overall, the Eva 2 is an excellent value for the money.
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L (for riders 5’0” to 6’0”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, SR Suntour M3030 with 75mm travel
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.1-inch Kenda
- Rims: double-wall Weinman
- Gears: 3 x 8 Shimano drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: alloy V-brake linear pull
- Saddle: women’s specific comfort saddle
- Color: white
- Warranty: ask about the details of the warranty
- Rating: 4.3
- Price: $
Schwinn High Timber Women’s Mountain Bike
The model highlighted here in the photo and in the specifications below is a bike with 27.5” x 2.2” tires and an aluminum frame with a suspension fork, a 21-speed drivetrain, and mechanical disc brakes.
Schwinn offers High Timber models in 20”, 24”, 26”, and 29” versions, some of which have linear-pull brakes.
Prices are quite reasonable for all sizes and quality is assured by the Schwinn brand and a limited lifetime warranty.
- Sizes: for riders 5’4” to 6’2”
- Frame/Fork Material: aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, suspension fork
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.2-inch all-terrain
- Gears: 3 x 7 Schwinn drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: alloy mechanical disc brakes
- Rims: high-profile double wall
- Quick-release seat post for easy height adjustment
- Color: blue, pink, black, coral, orange, red, silver, teal, grey, light purple, navy blue, yellow
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty
- Rating: 4.4
- Price: $
Women’s Mountain Bike Buying Guide
Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Mountain Bikes
There are obvious differences in physiques between men and women taken into consideration in the design of bikes specifically for women. Factors include:
- Overall Weight – With on-average lower strength than a man, women find that a lightweight bike is easier to manipulate on the trail and in transport and storage.
- Size – For many women of smaller stature, men’s and unisex bikes may be too large so smaller sizes can be a better fit.
- Frame Design – With the difference in body proportions between men and women, especially in the narrower width of the chest, bikes with different geometry can be more suitable for women. This can involve shorter distances from the seat to the handlebars with shorter top tubes and other design differences.
- Women’s Top Tube – Traditionally when you think of a women’s bike you imagine a lower top tube making it more “lady-like” for a woman to step through when wearing a dress. Some women’s-specific models still use a very low top bar but most are more concerned with ergonomics and what is most effective for women’s proportions and sizes as described above.
- Handlebars – For women-specific bikes, narrower handlebars fit women’s torso widths better than wider versions on men’s models. They are more ergonomic and comfortable increasing efficiency.
- Gears – Generally speaking, a woman’s endurance and strength are comparatively less than that of a man. (I realize there are women that are truly performance beasts out there that can kick the butts of all but the top men.) With this in mind, many women’s models are built with more gears so that challenging terrain and hill climbs can be achieved more easily.
- Brake Levers and Gear Shifters – In order to better fit women’s smaller and narrower hands, these levers and shifters are often downsized from standard men’s sizes to better fit. This makes for increased control with less effort.
Types of Mountain Bikes
- Trail Bikes – This type of mountain bike is the most common and versatile. For more casual riding on wide-open trails or roads, a trail bike is a good choice. It is best on hills that are not too steep. These usually are hardtails, bikes that have front suspension only.
- Cross-Country Bikes – These bikes are suitable for more challenging terrain with more obstacles to navigate, steeper climbs and descents, and narrower trails. There are hardtail and full suspension (front and rear) bikes that are both designed for this type of riding.
- All-Mountain or Enduro Bikes – The trails in this category may be wider, but they are often more rugged and technical. Ascents tend not to be as steep as in cross-country biking but descents can be steep and circuitous. Durable full-suspension bikes perform best in this style.
Features
Wheel Size – Mountain bikes for adults are available with wheels in 26, 27.5, and 29-inch diameters. It is largely a matter of preference with body size and height the major considerations. 26” wheels used to be the standard but in recent years that has changed. That diameter does have an advantage in maneuverability, though. Larger wheels perform better rolling over objects and for maintenance of momentum. For women’s mountain bikes 27.5” is the best fit for most riders depending also on the frame size and female-specific design geometry.
Suspension – Bikes can come with no suspension (rigid), suspension in the front only (hardtail), and in the front and rear (full or dual suspension). Many bikes for road use and fat bikes are rigid. As discussed above, trail bikes and cross-country bikes often are hardtails. For all-mountain or enduro action full-suspension models are most effective.
The purpose of the suspension is to absorb shock and smooth out the ride making for better control. The suspension has what is referred to as travel. This is the distance that the suspension can move when absorbing shock. Lower-priced models may have suspension with a travel amount of 120mm or less. The better more expensive suspension may have a travel amount of 150mm or more like the Diamondback Clutch 1 bike reviewed above. Bike Suspension Basics
Brakes – Better quality mountain bikes most often use disc brakes, either mechanical or hydraulic. Some of the least expensive models may use linear-pull or caliper brakes (rim brakes) but these are not as effective though acceptable to many riders.
Mechanical disc brakes are the cheaper of the two types of disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes are considered more sensitive and provide better control but often are more complex to maintain than mechanical disc brakes.
For more information on bikes and accessories, please check out these reviews:
Folding Bikes Cycling Cameras MTB Lights Hardtail Mountain Bikes Gravel Bikes Under $2,000 Beginner Road Bikes Bike Computers Comfort Bikes Children’s Mountain Bikes Women’s Mountain Bike Helmets Mountain Bike Helmets Affordable Electric Bikes BMX Bikes Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
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